Device for regulating the hands of a timepiece

ABSTRACT

A tuning fork of a timepiece is vibrationally driven by an electric circuit and a gear train transmits the vibratory motion of the tuning fork to a set of hands which indicate the time. A crown is mounted for pushing movement to a hands-running position and pulling movement to a hands-setting position and a power switch is opened during pulling movement of the crown to cut off the supply of power to the electric circuit and the power switch is closed during pushing movement of the crown to turn on the supply of power to the electric circuit. A pivotal lever is pivoted into engagement with the gear train during pulling movement of the crown to releasably lock the gear train against movement and the lever is pivoted out of engagement with the gear train to free same for movement during pushing movement of the crown. An impact member is mounted on the lever and strikes the tuning fork to start same into vibration during pivotal movement of the lever away from the gear train so that the tuning fork is mechanically set into vibration by the impact member and the vibrations are then sustained by the electric circuit.

United States Patent [191 Hirose et al.

[ 51 Nov. 26, 1974 [22] Filed:

[ DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE HANDS OF A TIMEPIECE [75] Inventors: Yoshiyuki Hirose, Tokyo; Yasukazu Kawamura, Funabashi, both of Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha,

Tokyo, Japan Dec. 27, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 318,761

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 27, 1971 Japan 46-1558 [52] US. Cl 58/23 TF, 58/33, 58/34, 58/85.5

[51] Int. Cl G04c 3/02, G04c 13/06 [58] Field of Search 58/23 R, 23 A, 23 D, 23 T,

58/23 F, 23 V, 33, 28 R, 28 D, 85.5, 34

Primary Examiner-Edith Simmons Jackmon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [57] ABSTRACT A tuning fork of a timepiece is vibrationally driven by an electric circuit and a gear train transmits the vibratory motion of the tuning fork to a set of hands which indicate the time. A crown is mounted for pushing movement to a hands-running position and pulling movement to a hands-setting position and a power switch is opened during pulling movement of the crown to cut off the supply of power to the electric circuit and the power switch is closed during pushing movement of the crown to turn on the supply of power to the electric circuit. A pivotal lever is pivoted into engagement with the gear train during pulling movement of the crown to releasably lock the gear train against movement and the lever is pivoted out of engagement with the gear train to free same for movement during pushing movement of the crown. An impact member is mounted on the lever and strikes the tuning fork to start same into vibration during pivotal movement of the lever away from the gear train so that the tuning fork is mechanically set into vibration by the impact member and the vibrations are then sustained by the electric circuit.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENTEL HEY 2 6 I974 sum 2 or 2 DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE HANDS OF A TIMEPIECE The present invention relates generally to a timepiece and more particularly, to a regulating device for regulating the setting of the hands of the timepiece.

In conventional timepieces employing a tuning fork, the setting of the hands is accomplished by stopping a second hand in the zero position and then setting the minute and hour hands in the desired position afterwhich a power supply switch is closed to initiate the running of the timepiece. This approach is disadvantageous since it normally takes from 2 to 3 seconds for the tuning fork to reach resonant frequency wherein it vibrates at a constant amplitude and thus the initial setting of the timepiece is inherently inaccurate. This is mainly due to the high Q-value of resonance which inherently' exists in tuning forks.

Another type of regulating device regulates the second hand by disengaging the driving lever from the index wheel while maintaining the tuning fork in vibration. Thus the tuning fork continues to vibrate at its resonant frequency even though there is no need to do so and this results in an unnecessary consumption of power.

After a tuning fork timepiece is manufactured, many days elapse before the timepiece is sold'to a consumer and thus it is desirable to maintain the timepiece in an inoperative state until such time that the timepiece is sold and ready for use. Thus if the timepiece is placed in operation at the time of manufacturing, considerable energy is consumed from the battery and thus the battery must be replaced at the retail store at the time of purchase of the timepiece or else the battery will run down much sooner than normally expected.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a regulating device for a timepiece employing a mechanical oscillator and which is capable of regulating the setting of the hands of the timepiece in a simple yet accurate manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a regulating device for a timepiece employing a mechanical oscillator and which automatically turns ON the power supply to the timepiece and effects compulsory starting of the oscillator into oscillation in response to simple depression of the timepiece crown.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a regulating device for a timepiece utilizing a mechanical oscillator and which enables the setting of the timepiece hands while the power switch is turned OFF and which maintains the power switch turned OFF for as long as the crown is in its pulled-out position.

These and other objects of the invention are carried out by the regulating device which comprises a power switch for connecting a battery to an electric circuit when the crown is pushed inwardly and for disconnecting the battery from the electric circuit when the crown is pulled outwardly. A pivotal lever engages with a gear train of the timepiece for locking the gear train against movement whenever the crown is pulled outwardly thereby enabling the timepiece hands to be set while the battery is disconnected from the electric circuit and the lever is pivoted out of locking engagement with the gear train when the crown is pushed inwardly. An impact spring is mounted on the lever and coacts with a projection on the mechanical oscillator to positively set the oscillator into oscillation during pivotal movement of the lever thereby minimizing the rise-up time in which it takes the oscillator to reach oscillation at a constant'amplitude thereby ensuring accuracy of the time setting.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be obvious from an understanding of the disclosure, the present invention comprises the combinations and arrangements of parts illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in sufficient detail to enable those persons skilled in the art to clearly understand the function, operation, construction, and advantages of it when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a timepiece utilizing a mechanical oscillator and equipped with a regulating device according to the present invention and FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the drawing which shows the inner workings of a timepiece embodying the present invention. The timepiece includes a base plate I having mounted thereon a mechanical oscillator comprising a tuning fork 2. The tuning fork 2 is attached to the base plate 1 by a pair of screws 3a and 3b such that the tuning fork may undergo oscillatory or vibratory motion as is known in the art. A pair of magnetic elements 2a and 2b are attached to the distal ends of the tuning fork tines.

Anelectric circuit assembly 4 is mounted on the base plate 1 by means of screws 5a and 5b. An electromagnetic coil 6 is mounted on the electric circuit assembly 4 in spaced-apart and symmetrical relationship from the magneticelements 211,2!) as shown in the FIGURE. The electric circuit assembly 4 and the electromagnetic coil 6 constitute electric circuit means which coacts with the tuning fork 2 in a manner known in the art to sustain the oscillations or vibrations of the tuning fork which serves as a time base for the timepiece.

A driving lever 7 is affixed to one tine of the tuning fork 2 such that vibrational movement of the tine effects a corresponding vibrational movement of the driving lever and an index wheel 8 is rotatably mounted on the base plate I to be intermittently driven by the vibratory motion of the driving lever 7. By such a construction, vibratory movement of the tuning fork 2 is transmitted through the driving lever 7 to intermittently rotate the index wheel 8 in a counterclockwise direction. A detent lever 9 is mounted on the base plate 1 and engages with the index wheel 8 to prevent reverse rotation or clockwise rotation of the index wheel 8.

Transmitting means is provided to transmit the intermittent rotary movement of the index wheel 8 to a second hand of the timepiece and the transmitting means comprises a gear train composed of the index wheel 8, gear wheels 10, ll, 12 and a center gear wheel 13.

Each gear wheel has gear teeth around the periphery and is driven by a pinion of the preceding gear. Thus, the pinion of the index wheel 8 drives the gear wheel 10 and the pinion of the gear 10 drives the gear 11 whose pinion drives the gear wheel 12 and the pinion of the gear wheel 12 rotationally drives the center gear wheel 13. The gear wheel 13 is connected to a rotatable shaft 13a and the second hand of the timepiece (not illustrated) is connected to and driven by the shaft 13a. In a like manner, the minute hand and hour hand (not illustrated) are connected to the transmitting means so that they are driven in a timed manner in response'to oscillatory or vibratory movement of the tuning fork 2.

A battery 14 is held in place on the base plate 1 by a support strip 15 which covers the battery and is fastened to the base plate by a pair of screws 16a, 16b. The battery 14 is of the type normally used in electronic timepieces and has a negative pole which is grounded to the base plate 1 and a positive pole connected to the electric circuit assembly 4. The electric circuit assembly 4 has a pair of supply terminals 4a, 4b and the terminal 4b is electrically connected to the positive pole of the battery 14 whereas the terminal 4a is connected to a power switch for tuning ON and OFF the power to the electric circuit assembly 4.

The power switch comprises a contact spring 17 composed of an electrically conductive material and affixed at one end to the terminal 4a as shown. The other end of the contact spring 17 is normally biased into contact with a contact pin 18 affixed and grounded to the base plate 1. When the contact spring 17 engages with the contact pin 18 (as shown in solid lines), the battery 14 is connected to the electric circuit assembly 4 and when the contact spring 17 is moved out of engagement with the contact pin 18 (as shown in phantom lines), the battery is disconnected from the electric circuit assembly and the supply of power to the electric circuit means is terminated.

The power switch is moved to its open and closed positions in response to pulling and pushing movement of a crown 20. The crown is provided with a setting lever spring (not shown) connected to a pin 21 in a manner known in the art and a switch lever 22 engages with the pin 21 to actuate the power switch in response to movement of the crown 20. The switch lever 22 is mounted for pivotal movement upon a pin 23 and the lever has a forked end portion 22a which engages with the pin 21 and an actuating end portion 22b composed of electrically insulating material which engages with the crown stem. The actuating end portion 22b is moved into contact with the contact spring 17 during pulling movement of the crown to a hands-setting position (shown in phantom lines) to disengage the contact spring from the contact pin 18 and is moved out of contact with the contact spring 17 during pushing movement of the crown to a hands-running position (shown in solid lines) to engage the contact spring with the contact pin.

The coaction between the setting lever and the crown 20 is known in the art and therefore such is not shown in the drawings nor will further explanation be given in the specification. Suffice it to say, pulling movement on the crown 20 is transmitted through the setting lever and pin 21 to the switch lever 22 to effect counterclockwise direction of the switch lever to open the power switch thereby cutting off the power supply to the electric circuit assembly 4. On the other hand, when the crown 20 is pushed inwardly, the switch lever 22 is moved in a clockwise direction thereby enabling the contact spring 17 to flex back into contact with the contact pin 18 to close the power switch thereby supplying power to the electric circuit assembly 4.

In accordance with the present invention, locking means is provided for locking the gear train gainst further driving movement whenever the power switch is turned OFF and impacting means is provided for automatically impacting the tuning fork to start same into vibration whenever the power switch is turned ON. The locking and impacting means comprise a regulating lever 30 mounted for pivotal movement-about a pin 31. The lever 30 has a first arm 30a engageable with an end tip 20a of the crown stem and a second arm 30b engageable with the gear teeth on the gear wheel 12 for releasably locking the wheel 12, as well as the remaining gear wheels in the gear train, against further rotation. A biasing spring 32 constantly biases the lever 30 in a clockwise direction about the pin 31 to maintain the first arm 30a in engagement with the end tip 20a of the crown stem.

The lever 30 is pivotable between a locking position (shown in phantom lines) and an unlocking position (shown in solid lines) and the lever 30 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction into its unlocking position in response to pushing movement of the crown 20. As seen in the drawing, the end portion 20a of the crown stem engages with the first arm 30a of the lever 30 to effect counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever against the biasing force of the spring 32 whenever the crown 20 is pushed inwardly and when the crown 20 is pulled outwardly, the biasing spring 32 effects pivotal movement of the lever 30 in a clockwise direction into its locking position.

In the embodiment shown, the tuning fork 2 is provided with a projection 22c and a resilient impact spring 34 is affixed to the lever 30 for impacting or striking the tuning fork projection 20 during counterclockwise movement of the lever 30 from its locking position to its unlocking position thereby imparting compulsory vibrational movement to the tuning fork 2.

The position of the projection 20 relative to the position of the impact spring 34 is chosen such that the projection lies in the path of travel of the impact spring during pivotal movement of the lever 30. The impact spring 34 also strikes against the projection 20 during clockwise pivotal movement of the lever 30 but such has no detrimental effect since such only occurs when the crown 20 is pulled out of the power switch is open to cutoff the power supply of power to the electric circuit. Other arrangements aside from the aforedescribed coacting between the impact spring 34 and the tuning fork projection 20 may be employed to initiate the vibratory motion of the tuning fork 2 and for example, the tuning fork may be started into vibrational movement by undergoing elastic distortion in response to depression of the crown 20.

The operation of the regulating device will now be described assuming that the components initially occupy the positions shown in the FIGURE in solid lines. In this position of the components, the crown 20 is in its pushedin or hands-running position an the end tip 200 of the crown stem engages with the first arm 30a and maintains the lever 30 in its most counterclockwise position against the biasing force of the spring 32 and the second arm 30b is maintained out of locking engagement with the gear wheel 12. Also, the actuating end portion 22b ofthe switch lever 22 is maintained out of engagement with the contact spring 17 so that the .contact spring engages with the contact pin 18 and the power switch is maintained in a closed position so that electric power is supplied to the electric circuit assem- 'bly 4.

tion due to the force exerted by the biasing spring 32 until the tip portion of the second arm 30b engages with the teeth on the gear wheel 12 thereby temporarily locking the gear train against driving movement. Thus if the hour and minute hands'of the timepiece are adjusted at this time, the hands are adjusted by slippage of the cannon pinion without causing damage to the driving lever 7 or the detent lever 9 due to reverse rotation of the gear train.

As the crown 20 is pulled outwardly, a setting lever acts through the pin 21 to pivot the switch lever 22 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in phantom lines. In this position, the actuating end portion 22b actuates the contact spring 17 to the position shown in phantom limes so that the contact spring is disconnected from the contact pin 18 thereby opening the power switch and terminating the supply of power to the electric circuit assembly 4. As a result, the battery I4 is disconnected from the electric circuit assembly 4 and the vibration of the tuning fork 2 soon comes to a complete halt. The timpiece is thus in a condition to be shipped or stored until it is sold to a consumer without the useless consumption of electric energy from the batter 14.

When it is desired to start the timepiece, the crown 20 is pushed inwardly to its hands-running position and during inward movement of the crown stem, the power switch is closed thereby turning ON the power supply and in response to further inward movement of the crown stem, the lever 30 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction form its locking position to its unlocking position. As the lever 30 is moved towards its unlocking position, the impact spring 34 imparts a shock to the tuning fork projection 20 of sufficient magnitude to start the tuning fork into vibration and thus the second hand commences movement at the desired time. Thus in accordance with the present invention, the tuning fork is automatically and mandatorily started into vibration after the. hands have been set in their desired positions and at a time when the electric circuit means is energized.

Without compulsory starting of the tuning fork, the rise-up time of the tuning fork T is proportional to the Q-value of the tuning fork, resonance and indirectly proportional to the resonant frequency of the tuning fork. Thus the rise-up time AT Qo/fo where Qo is the Q-value of resonance and f is the resonant frequency. For example, in a typical case where f0 equals 360 Hz and O0 equals 1,500, approximately 4 seconds are required for the tuning fork to reach its resonant frequency and thus without compulsory starting of the tuning fork 9 there is no possibility to accurately set the second hand.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to instantaneously and simultaneously actuate the I power supply switch and positively set the tuning fork into vibration thereby preventing wasteful consumption of power from the battery as well as enabling accurate setting of the hands of the timepiece. Moreover, the electric circuit assembly may be simplified since it is not necessary to include a self-starting circuit since the tuning forkis set into vibratory motion by mechanical means and this feature allows for greater tolerance in circuit design and simplifies the circuit assembly as well as enabling greater interchangeability between circuit assemblies. Thus the regulating device of the invention facilitates the massproduction of timepieces and simplifies the servicing and repairing of the timepieces.

What we claim is:

1. In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said handsrunning position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said said hands-running position to unlock said transmitting means and free same for further movement thereby rendering same effective, said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprising a resilient member mounted on said lever and movable into striking engagement with said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.

2. In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of 7 hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said handsrunning position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for 7 imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said oscillator comprising a tuning fork.

3. In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during H movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said handsrunning position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, a crown stem connected to said crown for movement therewith, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective comprising a pivotal lever having a first arm engageable with the end of said crown stem and a second arm engageable with said transmitting means to prevent movement of same; and biasing means constantly biasing said first arm into engagement with said crown stem whereby movement of said crown into said hand-setting position effects pivotal movement of said lever in one pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm into releasable engagement with said transmitting means and movement of said crown into said hands-running position effects pivotal movement of said lever in another pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm out of engagement with said transmitting means.

4. A timepiece according to claim 3, wherein said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprises a resilient member mounted on said lever at a location thereon to impulsively strike said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.

5. in a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the timeza mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; and means operative during movement of said crown from said handsrunning position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electricvcircuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electrical circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position; said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective including a pivotal lever pivotal in one. direction into releasable engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position to releasably lock said transmitting means agains movement thereby rendering same ineffective and pivotal in'another direction out of engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands- 7 running position to unlock said transmitting means and cillator into oscillatory motion. 

1. In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manuallY movable between a hands-setting position and a handsrunning position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said handsrunning position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective including a pivotal lever pivotal in one direction into releasable engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position to releasably lock said transmitting means against movement thereby rendering same ineffective and pivotal in another direction out of engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position to unlock said transmitting means and free same for further movement thereby rendering same effective, said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprising a resilient member mounted on said lever and movable into striking engagement with said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.
 2. In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said oscillator comprising a tuning fork.
 3. In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, a crown stem connected to said crown for movement therewith, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective comprising a pivotal lever having a first arm engageable with the end of said crown stem and a second arm engageable with said transmitting means to prevent movement of same; and biasing means constantly biasing said first arm into engagement with said crown stem whereby movement of said crown into said hand-setting position effects pivotal movement of said lever in one pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm into releasable engagement with said transmitting means and movement of said crown into said hands-running position effects pivotal movement of said lever in another pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm out of engagement with said transmitting means.
 4. A timepiece according to claim 3, wherein said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprises a resilient member mounted on said lever at a location thereon to impulsively strike said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.
 5. In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; and means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electrical circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position; said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective including a pivotal lever pivotal in one direction into releasable engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position to releasably lock said transmitting means agains movement thereby rendering same ineffective and pivotal in another direction out of engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position to unlock said transmitting means and free same for further movement thereby rendering same effective; and said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprising a resilient member mounted on said lever and movable into striking engagement with said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion. 